MIAMI – Hurricane Dorian blasted across the Bahamas in a record-setting way Sunday, tying an 84-year-old record for the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to come ashore as it continued its unrelenting march toward the U.S. East Coast.

In a statement late Sunday evening, the National Hurricane Center said a "prolonged period of catastrophic winds and storm surge will affect the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island for several more hours."

The National Hurricane Center said the storm was driving sustained winds of 185 mph, with gusts exceeding 220 mph. That tied the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, which tore through the Florida Keys, killing more than 400 people in the days before hurricanes were given names.

Dorian made landfall in Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas on Sunday afternoon, then made a second landfall near Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco at 2 p.m.

The raging winds tore off roofs, downed power lines and terrified islanders who sought shelter in schools, churches and other shelters. The few videos that have emerged from the northern islands show floodwaters streaming over roads and into homes, as residents plead for help in the middle of the slow-moving storm.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis urged his residents to flee ahead of Dorian's landfall, with officials hiring boats to ferry people to islands farther south. Samuel Butler, the assistant commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, put it bluntly when talking about those who decided to ride out the storm.

"The end could be fatal," Butler said. "We ask you, we beg you, we plead with you to get to a place of safety."

Florida arrival

Dorian's slow crawl, estimated at about 1 mph as of early Monday morning, placed it within 115 miles of West Palm Beach, Florida. But forecasters remained unsure of whether, or where, it might make landfall in the U.S. after it makes an expected turn to the north.

The National Hurricane Center warned that life-threatening storm surges and dangerous hurricane-force winds were expected along the east coast of Florida through mid-week.

"Only a slight deviation to the left of the official forecast would bring the core of Dorian near or over the Florida east coast. Residents in these areas should continue to monitor the progress of Dorian and listen to advice given by local emergency officials," it said in a statement at 11:00 p.m. ET on Sunday evening.

Millions of people from South Florida to North Carolina are now on alert and preparing for the worst.

Even if Dorian does not make landfall, the effects will be felt beginning around Monday evening when Florida's Melbourne and Palm Bay areas can expect tropical storm winds, said Ed Rappaport, deputy director at the National Hurricane Center in Miami on Sunday evening.

Tropical storm winds range from 60 to 73 miles per hour with gusts of up to 95 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday is when Florida residents on the east coast can expect the worst impacts, Rappaport said.

Areas under a hurricane warning, which on Sunday was from Palm Beach to as far north as Daytona Beach, could still see hurricane-force winds within 36 hours, likely Tuesday, even if the hurricane remains offshore, he said.

Conditions along coastal areas in the southern part of Florida will probably be at their worst on Tuesday, he said.

"As this storm progresses northward, it's quite likely these watches and warnings will have to be extended northward as well," he said Sunday evening.

Evacuations underway

Five Florida counties began evacuations of barrier islands and low-lying areas on Sunday. An additional three are expected to issue evacuation orders on Monday, the state's Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said Sunday night.

“Hurricane Dorian is the strongest storm to ever threaten the state of Florida on the East Coast,” said Moskowitz. “No matter what path this storm takes, our state will be impacted. We will continue to work around the clock to prepare.”

The state is suspending tolls on multiple turnpikes and toll roads in the areas expected to be affected by the hurricane and the evacuations.

Forty-five of Florida's 67 counties announced their school districts would be closed on Tuesday.

Florida Highway Patrol cars will be escorting fuel trucks to ensure that fuel reaches affected areas quickly. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are all waiving hours of service and truck weight for fuel trucks to ensure there will be enough gas available.

Across Florida's border in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp on Sunday evening ordered evacuations in six coastal counties east of Interstate 95, the main north-south coastal highway, beginning at noon on Monday.

Still further north, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered evacuations of more than 800,000 people starting Monday.

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"Every indication that we have has the turn (north) somewhere, it's just a matter of where it's going to be," said Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. "But again, with these systems, sometimes they've got a mind of their own."

In Pahokee, Florida, on the east shore of Lake Okeechobee, residents rely on God, shutters and rope to prepare for hurricanes. Mike and Christhie Meister were putting the finishing touches on shutters on their ranch home.

The storm was forecast to continue across Grand Bahama Island on Sunday night and Monday. Storm surge in some areas of the Bahamas was expected to exceed 10 feet, posing "serious threat to both life and property across much of the northern Bahamas," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

The slow pace of the storm meant some areas could be drenched by up to two feet of rain, adding to the damage, Buckingham said. The Bahamas Labour Ministry warned businesses that "laws regarding price gouging and price hoarding will be scrupulously enforced" over the next several days.

Hurricane Andrew in 1992 is the only Category 5 hurricane ever to pass through the Bahamas, AccuWeather said. "Right now, it's the strongest storm that we've ever recorded in history in modern times in the Bahamas area, so this is a very dangerous situation," Graham said.

Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy warned that "significant power outages" were likely in parts of the state and that "parts of the system will need to be rebuilt."

Rick Knabb, a hurricane expert at The Weather Channel, said the storm is likely to hammer much of the East Coast even if it never makes landfall in the U.S.

"Regardless of the track relative to Florida, the life-threatening winds and water of the hurricane could reach portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week," Knabb said.

The National Hurricane Center said Sunday that the storm will bring heavy rains, capable of producing life-threatening flash floods over coastal sections of the southeast and lower mid-Atlantic regions through late this week.

This GOES-16 satellite image taken Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at 16:00 UTC and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Dorian, right, churning over the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Dorian bore down on the Bahamas as a fierce Category 4 storm Saturday, with new projections showing it curving upward enough to potentially spare Florida a direct hit but still threatening parts of the Southeast U.S. with powerful winds and rising ocean water that causes what can be deadly flooding.(Photo: NOAA via AP)

Nothing stronger

Category 5 is the strongest rating and includes only hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 157 mph. Meteorologist Ryan Maue tweeted that, if the scale was extrapolated, Category 6 should start at 182 mph.

Forecasters say Dorian's sustained hurricane winds rank it among the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic. And it's still strengthening. Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane expert and meteorologist at Colorado State University, said Dorian has the strongest winds this far north in the Atlantic east of Florida on record.

Dorian is powerful but compact. Satellite images portray the hurricane as a relatively small feature, with hurricane-force winds "only" extending out from the center by about 30 miles, while tropical storm-force winds extend outward from the center of the hurricane by about 105 miles, AccuWeather said. That's only about half of what is average for a hurricane.

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Storm clouds gather as Tropical Storm Dorian moves toward St. Michael Parish, Barbados, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. Much of the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados shut down on Monday as Dorian approached the region and gathered strength, threatening to turn into a small hurricane that forecasters said could affect the northern Windward islands and Puerto Rico in upcoming days. Chris Brandis, AP

Jorge Ortiz works to tie down his roof as he prepares for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in the Martín Peña neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. The 50-year-old construction worker was taking no chances as Dorian approached Puerto Rico on Tuesday and threatened to brush past the island's southwest coast at near-hurricane strength. Gianfranco Gaglione, AP

Ya Mary Morales and Henry Sustache put plywood over the windows of their home as they prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian on Aug. 28, 2019 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The Tropical Storm is expected to hit around 2pm this afternoon. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

People gather at the coast hours before the storm enters in Patillas, Puerto Rico on, Aug. 28, 2019. Tropical Storm Dorian bore down on Puerto Rico Wednesday as residents braced for a direct hit, the first since the island was ravaged two years ago by Hurricane Maria. ERIC ROJAS, AFP/Getty Images

Victor Ortiz Martinez, 79, is guided by Hector Guzman at the William Rivera Vocational School converted into a temporary shelter, before the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019. Carlos Giusti, AP

Fort Pierce resident Bob McDaniel gets extra fuel for a power generator and his car at the Cumberland Farms store Aug. 29, 2019, on Hutchinson Island, Fla. McDaniel plans on riding out Hurricane Dorian at a safe house inland before returning to his home on the island, then using the gas for his generator after the storm. Eric Hasert, USA TODAY Network via TCPALM

Barry Kowalik of Danville Kentucky, helps his father Frank Kowalik board up his home Aug. 29, 2019, in the Fairlane Harbor neighborhood of Vero Beach, Fla. in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian. “I’m glad to be able to be down here, he wouldn’t be able to do this by himself,” Barry Kowalik said. The pair were using metal panels for hurricane protection on Frank’s home along Indian River Boulevard. “It sucks, it’s going to be a biggie,” Frank Kowalik said. Eric Hasert, USA TODAY Network via TCPALM

Well over 100 vehicles line up on Aug. 29, 2019, for free sandbags filled by trustees from the Brevard County Jail in the parking lot of Calvary Chapel, in Viera West, Fla. in preparation for arrival of Hurricane Dorian. Tim Shortt, Florida Today via USA TODAY Network

Miami residents buy supplies at a hardware store as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian in Miami, Fla. on Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian is expected to become category four hurricane by landfall on September 1 and 2. Cristobal Herrera, EPA-EFE

Shoppers wait in line to get two cases of bottled water —the limit per customer — at the Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, as central Florida residents prepare for a possible strike by Hurricane Dorian. Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel via AP

People walk to their boat through a flooded parking lot at the Haulover Marine Center before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 30, 2019 in Miami Beach, Fla. The high water was due to King tide which may cause additional problems as Hurricane Dorian arrives in the area as a possible Category 4 storm along the Florida coast. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Weston Rice drives through a flooded parking lot as he prepares to drop his jet ski into the water at the Haulover Marine Center before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 30, 2019 in Miami Beach. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Lisa Vance helps her husband Stephan go up the mast of their sailboat to do a repair in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at the Vero Beach City Marina in Vero Beach, Fla. The National Hurricane Center says Dorian could hit the Florida coast as a major hurricane early next week. Lynne Sladky, AP

People line up to buy water at a store before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Freeport, Bahamas, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Forecasters said the hurricane is expected to keep on strengthening and become a Category 3 later in the day. Ramon Espinosa, AP

Residents fill up gas cans for a generator in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, in Pembroke Pines, Fla on Aug. 30, 2019. Dorian was on a collision course with Florida on Friday as residents stocked up on food and water and battened down their homes to ride out the storm and others prepared to evacuate. Weather forecasters said Dorian, currently a Category 2 hurricane, could strengthen into a powerful Category 4 storm before it makes landfall but there was a great amount of uncertainty about where it would hit. Dorian is forecast to make landfall September 2. Rhona Wise, AFP/Getty Images

As worries continue about the impact of Hurricane Dorian, workers help a friend board up his apartment building on Aug. 31, 2019 in Fort Pierce, Florida. Dorian, once expected to make landfall near Fort Pierce as a category 4 storm , is currently expected to turn north and stay off of the Florida coast, lessening the impact on the area. Scott Olson, Getty Images

A sign on the door of the art gallery, Initially Yours, is posted in downtown Fort Pierce Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, as most businesses are closed in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, currently approaching Florida as a category 4 storm.
Eric Hasert, Treasure Coast News/ USA TODAY Network

The workers were boarding up the doors on the Cocoa Beach Pier Saturday morning. Brevard County residents were busy Saturday preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, its path still uncertain at this time. Malcolm Denemark, Florida Today/USA TODAY Network

People make sandbags at the cites municipal center as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, on Aug. 31, 2019 in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Dorian could be a Category 4 storm as it approaches the state and possibly making landfall as early as Monday somewhere along the east coast. Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Female inmates from Brevard County Jail load free sandbags into the trunk of a resident's car in Cocoa, Fla, Sunday Sept. 1, 2019. Hurricane Dorian, a powerful Category 5, is expected to strike the Bahamas on Sept. 1, before passing to the east of Florida early next week. JIM LO SCALZO, EPA-EFE

A man stands on a store's roof as he works to prepare it for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Hurricane Dorian intensified yet again Sunday as it closed in on the northern Bahamas, threatening to batter islands with Category 5-strength winds, pounding waves and torrential rain. Ramon Espinosa, AP

Pahokee, Fla. resident, Lorenzo Hunter shutters his home on Sunday, Sept., 1, 2019 in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. He lives right next to Lake Okeechobee and says the path of Hurricane Dorian is in God's hands and will wait and see which path it takes before making a decision to evacuate. Andrew West, The News-Press USA Today Netwrok

Nick Blazensky and Kevin Barfield of Barfield Contracting and Associates create a sign pointing the way to their location in Cocoa, Fla. Saturday afternoon, Aug 31, 2019. The building company provided free plywood and water at its office to anyone who needed it. Craig Bailey, Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY

Julian Rodriguez says a tearful goodbye to her mother, Martha Cedre, as she heads back to Puerto Rico. Martha stayed about a week longer to wait out Dorian in case it hit Puerto Rico, but now that the storm is coming to Florida she feels it's time to go home at Orlando International Airport on Sept. 1, 2019. Mark Clifford, The News-Press via USA TODAY Network

Sean Carnage and his daughter Alexa add another hurricane's name to their boards as they prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Melbourne, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY Network

A handful of swimmers and surfers were in the water at Daytona Beach when the beach patrol began asking them to get out of the water on Sept. 2, 2019. A couple of people were slow to get out of the water and then found back in the water further down the beach. They were told to get out of the water or risk being arrested. One of them ended up being arrested. The Daytona Beach area has been put on mandatory evacuation. Andrea Melendez, The News-Press via USA TODAY Network

David Braddock and his wife Kerrie Tyndall watch the waves from Hurricane Dorian at the Jupiter Beach Park in Jupiter, Fla. as the approaches the east coast of Florida on Sept. 2, 2019. Andrew West/The USA Today Networ, The News-Press via USA TODAY Network

Stacey McKindles, a resident of Martin County Fla. gives Bob "Cowboy" Marschat a hug in thanks for watching a home of a family friend at Ocean Tide mobile home park in Riviera Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019. Marschat says he wasn't leaving no matter what the path of Hurricane Dorian. Andrew West, The News-Press via USA TODAY Network

Adam Modert, right, along with his wife Lindsey and four children, Isla, Maverick, Maximus and Tyde, sit on the boardwalk at Humiston Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019, as large waves and surf come ashore ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The Modert's, of Fort Pierce, Fla. are staying at their home through the storm.
Patrick Dove, Treasure Coast News via USA TODAY Network

Devin Dull, a Coastal Carolina student surfs a wave in Myrtle Beach Monday, September 2, 2019. School is closed but the group of coastal Carolina students said they still have online homework. Ken Ruinard, Greenville News via USA TODAY Network

Patty McKonly from Lancaster, Mich., ties her boat down at the Pahokee Marina on Sunday, Sept, 1, 2019 in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. She and her husband flew down to secure the boat and are flying back out of the way of the powerful storm. Andrew West, The News-Press USA Today Netwrok

A still image dated from Sept. 2, 2019 made available by the National Fisheries Association of the Bahamas 0shows flooding on street as Hurricane Dorian hits the Bahamas with heavy winds. National Fisheries Association Of The Bahamas, EPA-EFE